AG, Governor reach Joint Memorandum of Understanding on social media, email use

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Governor Mike Parson announced today they had reached Joint Memorandum of Understanding regarding official office and personal use of social media accounts. The agreement was reached following the conclusion of the Attorney General’s investigation into the alleged Sunshine Law violations by the previous Administration of the Office of the Governor of Missouri.

“After a review of thousands and thousands of documents, our office has determined that no further action was warranted, in the matter of the use of social media and email, in the prior Governor’s Administration,” said Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Staff Christopher Wray. “However, it also became clear to us in this process that there is a real need for the establishment of best practices when it comes to the social media and email communication in conducting official business. Our agreement today is that the office of the Governor, no matter who is in office, will follow these best practices and serve as a model policy in Missouri and across the country.”

The Attorney General’s office said that they conducted a nationwide review of social media and email best practices, and developed a first of its kind, best in class, best practices policy for promoting transparency, and ensuring a clear delineation between official communications and personal use of social media and email. Under the leadership of Attorney General Schmitt, the Office of the Attorney General has also implemented these practices in its own official policies. The office also said that Governor Mike Parson and his team fully cooperated with the investigation and provided all necessary documents for review, and already follows the practices outlined in the policy.